This is an embassy on Picadilly, across from Green Park. The clouds couldn't decide what to do with themselves- bunching into shapes, blocking all but the errant shafts of sunlight, then cloaking themselves in slate gray. In all forms, a majestic backdrop for amazing architecture like this building.
Walking back to the Parklane, listening to Englishman in New York, (Sting-- but of course - you knew that ) I had one of those moments...was walking toward the sunlight and the people coming at me appeared all silhouette and shadow. Very intense.

Earlier - sipping the first of three Americanos with a splsh of milk, I made a list of essays I would like to write. Maybe the next blog and yes, i know i am missing one.

I. Leaves and Litter
II. The Drama of Women’s Footwear
III. The Indiscrete Charm of the Bourgeois
IV. False Choices
V. Literature in Lieu of Human Dialogue
VII. “I Know”; an Expression of Sadness
VIII. Martha’s Appeal
IX. Many Small Changes
X. Moving Toward Daily Morality
XI. Opening China without Misplacing Our Values
XII. Metrics Lie
XIII. Art in the Closet: The Failure to Drive Adoption

This is me in front of the theatre where Phatom of the Oper is still playing.
What is it about that story that is so captivating... at least to women? I guess the premise that there can be intimacy and devotion that supercedes appearances.
Anyway , arrived in London at 7;10 am and walked around all afternoon so that I would adhust to time zone differences. Seems to have worked fairly well. Lovely day. Among the English whimsy... the Favorite Handymn of 2006! Not only hand he jerry-rigged his truck so that the exhaust spewed bubbles, he sang, quite well, over a loudspeaker. Who wouldn't want such a cheerful, ingenious fellow around to help out! 

How can we not believe in ghosts! Sunset on the tombstones. Full moon rising. 

Here is the village-- perhaps the county church Imagine this a stone's throw from your house. Tombstones from the 1600's. Allegedly some 200 years earlier than that-- but will have to see corroboration of that -- which means another visit! Would be very spooky at night. 

Here is an illusion in an illusion-- three shadows at the brink of the haha.

Taken just before we left - a freeze frame of a moment. Ha-has, I learned were a device of estate planners to keep livestock from crossing the perimeter of the grounds and into the surrounding countryside -without the visual scar of a fence. Since a ha-ha is recessed rather than raised, the illusion of unrestricted space is maintained.
(Explanation courtesy of my host.)

Running fence on the grounds of Stowe. Imagine walking the grounds in spring with the opening of Riggoleto wafting through the air and forsythia budding. 

Lovely gazing ball and stream with a glazing of ice. 

House guest and brilliant imp-- sharply cold on the grounds of Stowe. 

Here is the wonderful Waddingdon Estate- aviary, grounds, turrets and gargoyles! 

A weekend in the country...
In the little village of Hoggeston, there are a dozen or two domiciles, some with thatched roofs, some with sheep pens, some with happy families, ( and some, I suppose not.) The properties have names, not numbers, and I was fortunate enough to be a guest in one of these homes. (I will remain sensitive to posting details about someone else's life! Mine may be fair to share but goodness, these dear people are British! )

The ride out went very quickly - good conversation will do that. Friday night stiffness disapated pretty quickly thanks to the availability of children ( yes-- water seeks its own level!) When did children get so SMART! Really--- it is enough to give me a glimmer of hope. Maybe it is that they were younger and still willing to communicate with adults. The two girls were, in a phrase, "chalk and cheese" but lovely to get to know. and fascinating to watch together.

Cross from the property was a pen of sheep, expectant and attentive as an audiance at a concert as i approached. Felt like a conversation between mean the ewes- there I go-- letting slip the level i am at these days! Down the road was the village church-- really quite grand. For 500 years- drawing people together.

Anyway- back to the travelogue: here in Buckingham, there are a number of properties of such historical value that they are part of the National Trust. The National Trust is simply an affiliation of people that care enough about the architectural treasures of the past that they fund their continued upkeep. THe first we visited was the extraordinary palace -like Waddingdon estate, in the stule of a 17C French Chateau.

The next was the wonderful grounds of the Stowe School. I have a lot of pictures .. here are few. The day was very cold-- but it worked well to keep distracting crowds at bay. The day was wonderful and the gerbils of mental activity that scamper and scurry in my kookie mind.. actually stopped. At days end- as we got hit the warmth of the car and i took a bite of double cream chocolate, I felt myself to be, for that moment, blissfully happy. Amazing what peaceful scenery, good company and fresh air can do!